Gulfood Manufacturing 2025: UAE F&B Growth Drives Global Momentum

Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 has concluded its most transformative edition yet, breaking previous records with double-digit expansion since 2024. Ranked as the world’s top destination for Greenfield foreign direct investment, and positioned at the centre of a 43.65% CAGR surge in AI adoption, Dubai is rapidly becoming the engine driving the next wave of food manufacturing innovation. With the global food processing market forecast to reach $318.29 billion by 2034, Gulfood Manufacturing stands at the intersection of this momentum.

This year’s edition welcomed over 2,500 exhibitors from 79 countries across 21 dynamic halls, marking the largest footprint in the event’s history. Global exhibitors including ADM, APICAL Middle East FZCO, Atom FZCO, Bühler DMCC, Ingredion, KHS Middle East FZCO, Rieckermann GmbH, Symrise AG, Tetra Pak and TNA Solutions converged at the event, with leading names selling machinery on the show floor, signing partnerships and compressing months of business into three days. The quality of business achieved at this landmark event reflects Gulfood Manufacturing’s unmatched position as the meeting point for the industry’s most advanced AI-driven manufacturing and breakthrough food technologies.

Record-Breaking Scale and Global Reach reflects growing Global Manufacturing Connectivity

The scale of this year’s edition reflected Dubai’s ascent as a world-class hub for industrial and manufacturing progress. From Japan, Korea and Russia joining the exhibitor roster for the first time to returning heavyweights from Europe, the Americas, Africa and the GCC, the event drew the broadest international participation in its history.

Commenting on their debut participation, Ryo Takeshita, Sales Manager at ASTRA Inc. from Japan, said, “The response has been fantastic, we’ve already sold several units and are impressed by the passion and drive of the visitors. The energy here is exciting and it’s clear that this is a market we want to grow with. We’ll definitely be back next year, and we’re already looking forward to it.”

Givaudan unveiled Myromi, a handheld aroma delivery device that utilises AI to allow customers to refine aromas instantly. “Gulfood Manufacturing remains a flagship event for Givaudan; a vital platform to connect with our customers, showcase innovation, and co-create the future of food. This year, we are proud to return for the sixth time, sparking a new era of food experiences,” said Dr. Imad Farhat, Regional Commercial Head (South Asia, Middle East & Africa), Givaudan.

Landmark Deals and Strategic Collaborations Across the Show Floor

The 2025 edition also witnessed historic business deals and transformative partnership announcements, underscoring the event’s role as the definitive meeting ground for global industry growth with actionable innovation and tangible business outcomes. Abdelghany Eladib, President & General Manager, India, Middle East and Africa at SIG, commented: “We are pleased to announce the successful sale of 9 filling lines at Gulfood Manufacturing, reflecting the strong demand for our sustainable and efficient packaging solutions.”

Among the most notable announcements, Al Thika Packaging was officially acquired by Zakka Multitech, a landmark move that strengthens regional production and automation capabilities in packaging machines and materials.

Industry-leading exhibitors also announced new partnerships, product launches and multi-market collaborations, reinforcing the event’s unmatched role in accelerating the future of intelligent, sustainable production. Tetra Pak selected Gulfood Manufacturing to globally launch their Tetra Pak® Factory OS™, Adroit Engineering Services partnered with Hitachi, while Novonesis, a global front runner in biosolutions, announced a major collaboration to ‘scale deliciousness’ with Noma, widely known as one of the world’s finest restaurants.

Alalamiah Machines, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading manufacturers of nut and seed roasting machines, signed a notable machinery deal, and other leading exhibitors achieved ‘more leads in one day than we had planned across all three days of the show’. Several other industry leaders also sold machinery directly from the show floor, converting live demonstrations into immediate contracts and commercial announcements.

Buyers, Investors and Industry Leaders Align for Growth

With an unparalleled turnout of buyers, exhibitors and investors, Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 became a crowd-puller for high-level industry engagement. Investors praised the event’s ability to bridge global supply chains and drive investment confidence across new markets.

“Traditionally, we’ve had strong trading operators who focused on import and export, but the landscape is shifting. Manufacturing is now becoming a major focus area, powered by technology and Industry 4.0 advancements. Platforms like Gulfood Manufacturing are pivotal because they bring together startups, manufacturers and infrastructure players — all driving this transformation forward,” said Manik Pasricha, Vice President, Investments, Titan Capital.

Likewise, Alan Foy, Chairman and Founder of Venturewave Capital, commented, “The Middle East is rapidly becoming a global hub for food security and advanced manufacturing, creating a powerful platform for the next generation of food-tech innovators. At Venturewave, we’re proud to back mission-driven founders building sustainable, export-ready businesses that strengthen economies, create jobs, and secure the future of food. Events like Gulfood Manufacturing play a vital role in driving that vision forward.”

Global FoodTech Leaders and Innovators Unveil the Future of Global Food Manufacturing

The FoodTech Summit drew leading experts and C-suite executives from around the world to discuss thought-provoking topics, including the food engineering breakthroughs, metaverse-powered factories, next-generation food safety, circular ecosystems, sustainability-linked finance and AI in food manufacturing.

On a panel discussing the sustainable and functional packaging solutions, Dr. Mike Cheetham, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Hotpack Global, commented, "Originally for over 75 years, nearly everything packaging was plastic and approximately 10 years ago, we started to see a strong move towards paper and board solutions. Across the last three years, evidence-based findings, have led to a move back towards sustainable plastic solutions. Now, there's a nice sensible mix of packaging options that embrace paper/board, plant-based solutions, along with sustainable polymers, which now include PIR/PCR recyclates, biopolymers and some exciting new generation polymers such as PHA & PBS."

The next edition of Gulfood Manufacturing will take place from 3 – 5 November 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre, aiming to continue its role in being the ultimate gateway for international collaboration, investment acceleration, manufacturing scale and being a global catalyst for change in the global food and beverage manufacturing industry.